Abia Leads Nigeria in Development Spending, as States Ranked by 2024 Capital Expenditure Per Capita

In a revealing fiscal performance analysis released by BudgIT and reported by TheCable Index, Abia State has emerged as Nigeria’s top state in capital expenditure per capita for 2024, signaling a bold commitment to infrastructural renewal and citizen-focused development.

According to the data, Abia State recorded an impressive ₦137,253 capital expenditure per resident, nearly double that of Adamawa, which ranked second with ₦72,928. Akwa Ibom followed closely with ₦66,455, while Anambra and Bauchi States recorded ₦59,117 and ₦58,106 respectively.

This ranking highlights the extent to which each state government invested in fixed capital assets, infrastructure, land, and other development-driven projects within the year.

Capital expenditure represents the funds allocated for projects that build or improve long-term assets, such as roads, hospitals, schools, water systems, and technology infrastructure.

Abia’s remarkable performance underscores a significant shift in fiscal priorities, reflecting Governor Alex Otti’s administration’s focus on tangible development outcomes over recurrent spending. Since assuming office, the state government has launched a series of capital-intensive projects across key sectors from road reconstruction and urban renewal in Aba and Umuahia to investments in healthcare, education, and agricultural transformation.

Meanwhile, other top-performing states include Bayelsa (₦52,252), Benue (₦49,991), Borno (₦49,054), and Cross River (₦48,109), showing varying levels of capital commitment relative to their population sizes.

At the lower end of the ranking, Zamfara State recorded the least capital expenditure per capita at ₦7,724, followed by Yobe (₦11,428), Taraba (₦13,229), and Sokoto (₦13,429), suggesting a weaker emphasis on capital projects compared to other states.

The ranking not only reveals fiscal discipline and development priorities across states but also provides insight into how efficiently each government channels resources toward building sustainable infrastructure and economic growth.

For many analysts, Abia’s top position stands as proof that a transparent and reform-driven governance model can deliver measurable improvements in development spending and public impact, setting a benchmark for other Nigerian states to follow.

Full Ranking of States by Capital Expenditure Per Capita (2024):

1. Abia – ₦137,253

2. Adamawa – ₦72,928

3. Akwa Ibom – ₦66,455

4. Anambra – ₦59,117

5. Bauchi – ₦58,106

6. Bayelsa – ₦52,252

7. Benue – ₦49,991

8. Borno – ₦49,054

9. Cross River – ₦48,109

10. Delta – ₦47,969

11. Ebonyi – ₦46,575

12. Edo – ₦44,632

13. Ekiti – ₦34,886

14. Enugu – ₦34,826

15. Gombe – ₦34,404

16. Imo – ₦31,559

17. Jigawa – ₦28,018

18. Kaduna – ₦27,393

19. Kano – ₦25,997

20. Katsina – ₦23,953

21. Kebbi – ₦23,634

22. Kogi – ₦22,323

23. Kwara – ₦22,078

24. Lagos – ₦21,040

25. Nasarawa – ₦20,012

26. Niger – ₦19,928

27. Ogun – ₦19,584

28. Ondo – ₦19,483

29. Osun – ₦15,427

30. Oyo – ₦14,447

31. Plateau – ₦13,652

32. Sokoto – ₦13,429

33. Taraba – ₦13,229

34. Yobe – ₦11,428

35. Zamfara – ₦7,724

Source: BudgIT / TheCable Index